Waikato Wellbeing Project

At its core, Lots of Little Fires aims to amplify the voices of inspirational people and kaupapa that are working towards equity and social justice, shining a light on the invisible labour which leads to grass roots change in our communities.

Find out what they've been up to and what's in the pipeline!

Lots of Little Fires An update by Lead Social Innovator, Joe Wilson

WHI members work to change the current status quo of housing across the region by leading, connecting and facilitating the delivery of affordable, quality and accessible homes in the Waikato.

Read the full blog below

Waikato Housing Stocktake (SDG 11) The WHI was established under the Waiakto Plan in 2016 as part of the Waikato Plan and is the peak leadership body for housing in the Waikato. The WHI vision is that “Every person and every family in

The Waikato Wellbeing SDG12 goal is to “Increase the number of households, schools, businesses and farms who reduce their waste leading to a 50% reduction of waste to landfill by 2030.”
As a first step toward meeting this goal, Waikato Regional Council has been collecting relevant data to identify the most effective way to action this goal.

Find our more here ⬇️

Circularising Organics Project and Webinar (SDG 12) Update provided by Valerie Bianchi, Manu Taki SDG 12, Waste Prevention Advisor Waikato Regional Council.

The Waikato Wellbeing Project’s Kai Challenge has an ambitious target of reducing child poverty in the Waikato region to less than 1% and eliminating child hunger by 2030. Our goal is that: “Our children can thrive because none are hungry at school or cold at home. They can afford to participate in social, artistic, cultural and sporting activities.”

Read the full blog here ⬇️

Hunger and Poverty (SDGs 1,2) While we search for a replacement for Amber, we are making sure that the work programme she started continues.The Waikato Wellbeing Project’s Kai Challenge has an ambitious target of reducing child po

The idea behind a foodshed analysis is to identify the potential gaps or weaknesses of the current foodshed.

Read more about the Waikato Foodshed on our latest blog

Waikato Foodshed A baseline foodshed analysis shows the estimated food production potential of a specific area’s productive land relative to the food needs of its population. A foodshed is a geographic area (typically

Here is it! ⬇

The link to watch the recent 'Circularising Organics in the Waikato' webinar.

Grab a cuppa and settle in with Harvey Brookes Valerie Bianchi Liam Prince Rachel Glasier and Paul Murray for an hour of valuable knowledge sharing and insights.

https://www.waikatowellbeingproject.co.nz/responsible-consumption/

The Circularising Organics in the Waikato Webinar is underway!

If you didn’t get a chance to join us online stay tuned as we will share the recording later this week! 🙏

Thomas Hunt, Community Based Youth Worker, Kirikiriroa Hamilton. ‘Tom Hunt is a bit of a legend in the Nawton community of Kirikiriroa Hamilton’ says Western Community Centre Manager Neil Tolan…‘The love care and drive he ...

Join us for Circularising Organics in the Waikato with the Waikato Wellbeing Project Manu Taki for SDG12 and guest speakers on Tuesday, August 6th at 10:00 AM.

Register here:

Circularising Organics in the Waikato Join the Waikato Wellbeing Project Manu Taki for SDG12 along with guest speakers.

Rebalancing Our Food System
By Amber Hammill

I have decided to lean into my optimism about this report, ‘Rebalancing our food system’ produced by the Public Health Advisory Committee in May 2024.

It’s a lovely weighty document which I encourage you to enjoy in full, but I thought I’d share my highlights here 👇

Rebalancing Our Food System I have decided to lean into my optimism about this report, ‘Rebalancing our food system’ produced by the Public Health Advisory Committee in May 2024. There is a lot to love in here!

We recently shared an update in our newsletter on The Hauraki Opportunity.

The Hauraki Opportunity is a flagship project of Te Ara Poutama, designed to deliver in co-construction with the people of Hauraki a repeatable Wellbeing Measurement and Management System that measures what matters to them, so that their needs, aspirations, and priorities can be further understood and evidenced, and so that – aligned to the intentions of Te Ara Poutama - important choices regarding the present and future wellbeing of the region can be made wisely.

Find out more on our website 👇

Te Ara Poutama - Hauraki Opportunity The Hauraki Opportunity is a flagship project of Te Ara Poutama, designed to deliver in co-construction with the people of Hauraki a repeatable Wellbeing Measurement and Management System that measure

Visit our website for the latest update on the Kai Challenge from Dr Amber Hammill, Kai Challenge Activator. Updates include the Te Nira Research, Advocacy and The National Science Challenge.

Poutoko: Major Projects Hunger and Poverty (SDGs 1,2) An update by Dr Amber Hammill, Kai Challenge Activator

The Waikato Wellbeing Project is a research, knowledge and storytelling project focused on environmental and social equity in the Waikato.

Our work illuminates the deeper stories of our regional wellbeing challenges, to awhi the real-life initiatives, people and projects imagining, creating and leading positive alternatives to the status quo. The WWP is a suite of integrated focus areas and projects across the region, with the common theme of listening deeply and facilitating impact, through:

Research on the region's pressing social and environmental wellbeing challenges, their upstream causes and innovative ways ahead

Wellbeing knowledge which brings together existing and new data and information at a range of scales and locations

Storytelling- shining a light to support the invisible labour which leads to tangible grass roots change in our communities

Advocacy and communications- to share the knowledge and insights we have gained and to encourage positive change

Read more here https://bit.ly/3R72FZ0

We have updated our 2024-25 Business Plan.

Here are the highlights 👇

Poutoko: Major Projects – we have sharpened our focus and for 2024-25 we will focus the majority of our effort on completing and amplifying the results of the Kai Challenge.

Te Ara Poutama – will continue, and we will seek a person to lead this initiative for the next 12+ months to maximise the impact of greater knowledge and insight into wellbeing at arrange of scales in the Waikato.

Lots of Little Fires – this important initiative will continue, and we will aim to produce another 10 stories by March 2025. We will broaden the range of stories which we share over the next 12 months to cover additional dimensions of wellbeing in different geographies/localities.

Advocacy and Communications – we will continue to share the insights we develop through our advocacy and communications channels, including through formal submissions.

Organisational Effectiveness - We will work with WEL Energy Trust and Waikato Regional Council to commission and undertake a review of the WWP, with results of the review guiding WWP business planning for 2025-26 and beyond.

View our Business Plan here https://bit.ly/4bWOdeq

Today we share and celebrate the kōrero of Lots of Little Fires itself and how the kaupapa has helped create meaningful impact within and across out communities.

We are so grateful all the incredible Changemakers who have featured in the first ten stories and we are humbled to continue this ataahua mahi for the year ahead.

Raising awareness, inspiring others and celebrating the positive alternatives that already lie within our communities are the foundation of what we try to achieve and we feel honoured to play a small part in being part of the change. Its is good people that make the difference ✨❤️✊🏽🙏🏽

Lots of Little Fires 1 Year on Reflections Waikato Wellbeing Project celebrates one year of Lots of Little Fires - sharing inspiring stories and positive impact

We’re thrilled to share our updated logo!

As we have travelled from the original concept for the WWP to the programme we have today it has become clearer that at its heart, the Waikato Wellbeing Project is a research, knowledge and storytelling project focused on environmental and social equity in the Waikato.

We have updated our logo to make it clear these are our major contributions to wellbeing in the Waikato, which aligns fully with our purpose statement and our theory of change.

Find out more here https://www.waikatowellbeingproject.co.nz/blog/

Local councils might not seem like the most obvious actors in the food system, but both city and district councils can have substantial impacts on local food environments.

Councils, after all, have influence over where food is grown and produced, how and where it can be prepared and sold, what happens to food waste, as well as the food councils are responsible for buying and selling themselves.

Right now, councils around the region are consulting on their long term plans.

Read more below from Kai Project Lead Dr Amber Hammill

My Long Term Plan includes Food By Dr Amber HammillLocal councils might not seem like the most obvious actors in the food system, but both city and district councils can have substantial impacts on local food environments. Councils,

Plans this Sunday? head along to Earth Stewards Farm Open Day!

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Tell us what matters most—Tukua tō reo kia rere

We want to hear from you if you live, work, or play in Thames-Coromandel, Hauraki or Matamata-Piako, from Mount Moehau to Mount Te Aroha, across the Hauraki Plains, and up to the Wharekawa Coast.

We want to know what you think we should ask everyone about.

Click on the link to take the 2-minute survey now, and share your whakaaro—your thoughts—to be in the loop when the survey comes out later this year.

Thames-Coromandel District Council Hauraki District Council Matamata-Piako District Council

https://bit.ly/3UIipEj

Calling all waste reduction heroes! It’s time to get your applications together to get a share of Hamilton City Council Waste Minimisation Fund, before it closes on 19 April 2024.

The annual $50,000 fund is for waste minimisation projects that involve or benefit the Hamilton community, and lead to long-term waste reduction and behaviour change – in line with the vision of Hamilton City Council’s Waste Management and Minimisation Strategy.

The fund is available for community groups, businesses, Iwi/Maaori organisations, and educational institutions. Groups can apply for standard funding of $1000 - $5000, or special projects funding of $5000 - $15,000.

Apply online today https://bit.ly/4aP4bqs

Hauraki Māori Trust Board in collaboration with Te Tara o Te Whai & Te Whatu Ora are excited to announce expression of interest for access and support - Rangatahi link is open.

Access and Support Services for Rangatahi initiative is aimed at providing funding opportunities for community groups & organisations who deliver Rangatahi projects.

These projects need to achieve the following outcomes:

Rangatahi are self confident and proud of their whakapapa.
Rangatahi feel a sense of identity and belonging.
Rangatahi have an ecosystem of support that is committed to their wellbeing.


To find out more information about this funding opportunity, please contact Nikky Fisher at Hauraki Māori Trust Board [email protected]

To apply, click link below.

Expressions of interest need to be submitted by 15th April 2024.

https://form.jotform.com/240768189156064

Show your support for the School Lunch Programme, Keeping our tamariki fed and ready to learn.

Stop the cuts - Protect Our School Lunches Schools are a place where kids go to learn, connect, and grow. But they can’t do this if they are hungry. In Aotearoa, one in five children live with food poverty. And poor nutrition is not limited to kids in food poverty, with only 5 per cent of children aged 0-14 years getting the recommended am...

Rainbow Hub Waikato “I mean, if you could imagine only having a couple of hours a week where you can be yourself completely yourself and not have to worry about what people migh...

In July 2023, the Waikato Wellbeing Project joined forces with Twenty20 Housing to produce a compelling story as part of the ‘Lots of Little Fires’ series.

This collaboration brought to light the essential role of exceptionally run transitional housing providers, like Twenty20 Housing, in supporting adults and rangatahi (young people) experiencing housing insecurity and homelessness.

Angie Simpson, director of Twenty20 Sustainable Housing, saw a previous ‘Lots of Little Fires’ story shared by the teen mums at He Puaawai, the Teen Parent Unit at Fraser High School. Shocked by the negative experience the young mums were having in their current transitional living situations, Angie asked Joe Wilson to connect her with Gill Cotter, curriculum director of He Puaawai to see what could be done to help.

After meeting with some of the young parents and understanding their needs, Twenty20 set out to help, and have now opened a beautiful new whare, home, that will cater specifically for young mothers in a nurturing, safe and fully supported environment.

“We saw their video; they saw our video and this whare was conceived in that meeting. We wanted to do something together.” Says Angie Simpson.

Read the full story here

https://bit.ly/3T5vGV7

Just 4️⃣ days to go until our International Women's Day event!

We're looking forward to having Rachel Afeaki (who has a background in international trade relations and development, international governance working across small island state nations, and commercial experience with projects between NZ and the Pacific region) joining us as a panellist 💗

Join us for a rich lunchtime discussion, looking into the intersectionality of gender equality and sustainable development, and how empowering women in leadership positively impacts multiple SDGs.

Will you be joining us?
📅 March 5, 11:30am - 1:30pm
📍 Hive 11, 11 Somerset Street
🎟 Available via https://events.humanitix.com/vision-2030-gender-equality-as-a-catalyst-for-change

Thanks to YWCA of Hamilton, Seed Waikato, Zonta Hamilton Waikato, Hamilton Branch of National Council of Women of New Zealand,National Council of Women of New Zealand and Waikato Women in Business Inc. for supporting this event!

4th Annual Women in Leadership Executive Program

This four-week immersive program is designed not only to enhance your leadership skills but to amplify your impact on business decisions through the lens of inclusivity.

This program is suitable for women at multiple levels. Whether you're a seasoned leader looking for a fresh approach, or an emerging leader looking to kick start your journey, this program will support your growth through collaborative weekly sessions, high-impact discussions, and self-guided assignments.

Women in Leadership Executive Program | leadership excellence Empowering Leadership Excellence: A Journey of Self-discovery, Influential Engagement, and Growth | Women in Leadership Executive Program

The Latest in our Lots of Little Fires Series takes us to meet Rangi Hetet from Pono Performance - Rangi Linda Coaching. 🔥

Rangi Hetet and the Takeover Challenge "I want to empower women to stand up, to be the change, to be the light for their families, that they don't have to do it alone, that there is a way out. Tha...